“Mohammed Shami Is…”- India Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak Gives Update On Pacer Before Champions Trophy

Mohammed Shami’s fitness update for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been officially given by the Indian team management via batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. This comes as Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is still under the dark clouds.

After being out for more than a year due to injury, Mohammed Shami made a victorious return to the ongoing limited-overs series against England at home.

Shami returned to international cricket for the 1st time after 2023 World Cup

However, the senior Indian pacer is not at his best with the ball, but white-ball games are providing him with much-needed practice to restore his form ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Shami took three wickets in two T20Is against England, and the 34-year-old took one wicket in an eight-over session during the Men in Blue's four-wicket victory over Jos Buttler's team in the first ODI on February 6 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

Sitanshu Kotal gives an update on Mohammed Shami’s fitness

With the experienced bowler steadily regaining his form with the ball, India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, provided an update on Mohammed Shami's fitness. Actually, prior to the second ODI in Cuttack, the coach was asked about Shami's fitness and availability for the upcoming ICC event.

Sitanshu Kotak has pronounced Shami fully healthy for the next ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, the batting coach refused to comment on Bumrah's fitness because he was unaware of the star pacer's scans.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sitanshu Kotak told the media, “Mohammed Shami is absolutely fit. He is completely fit for the Champions Trophy. But I’m not aware of Bumrah's scans, so that will be obvious; our doctor or physio will know about that.”

Kotak supported Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's form, dismissing any reservations about his recent performance. He noted that prior to the first ODI in Nagpur, Rohit had performed consistently in his previous three ODI.

Rohit Sharma’s poor form defended by Sitanshu Kotak

The batting coach acknowledged that Rohit had a difficult Australia tour, but emphasized that the Indian opener is one of the legends of ODI cricket, therefore there is no reason to be concerned about his form.

“See, I personally don't think there is any problem. In the last three one-dayers (before the series opener in Nagpur), Rohit scored 56, 64, and 35 (against Sri Lanka last year), nearly averaging 50-plus. We are talking about a player who has got 31 ODI hundreds. When he keeps scoring runs in back-to-back matches, nobody asks, 'When will he fail?'” he said.

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